Famous State of Orissa in india

  By Dhananjai | September 4, 2012 | INDIAN CULTURE

History The history of Orissa or Kalinga, as it was called, is layered in time. Once a formidable maritime empire with trade relations with the South East kingdoms of Bali, Sumatra and Java, Orissa’s wealth attracted the attention of the mighty Mauryan Empire. The Mauryan Emperor, Ashoka the Great, conquered Orissa after the bloody battle of Kalinga in 261 BC. The carnage and suffering caused by the war affected him deeply and Ashoka forsook the path of violence vowing never to kill again. He embraced Buddhism and spread Buddha’s message beyond India’s shores to Sri Lanka and the Far East. Around the 1st century BC, Kalinga came under Jain influence that lasted for a few centuries till the region returned to Hinduism under the kings of the Kesari and Ganga dynasties by the 7th century BC. Assimilating all these cultures, the style of temple architecture evolved into one unique to Kalinga; the caves and temples of Bhubaneshwar, Puri and Konark stand testament to this rich architectural heritage. Despite the growing numbers of Muslim kingdoms in the north, south and west of India, it took the juggernaut of Mughal armies to subjugate Orissa (16th century). The decline of the Mughal Empire brought the Marathas to Orissa. They continued to exercise sovereignty, till the British gained dominance around 1803. Once India became independence in 1947, Orissa was made a state under the federal Indian Union.

Economy Orissa has a predominantly agricultural economy with rice being the major crop cultivated by more than 80% of the rural population. The state has fertile green coastal plains that rise up to the hills of the Eastern Ghats. Other produces of the agricultural sector are pulses (legumes), cotton, tobacco, sugarcane, and turmeric. The state also exports large quantities of fish. The industrial sector has iron and steel plants, textiles, cement, paper, glass, aluminum, flour, and soap factories, and processing mills for sugar and edible oil. Small scale industries include handloom weaving, making of baskets, wooden articles, hats, nets, and silver filigree (ornamental work). The pace of industrial progress in Orissa has quickened in recent years. Emphasis is being given to leather, ferro alloys, electronics, iron industries and production of tea, coffee, rubber, cashew nuts, spices, plastic and production of energy. Agro-based industries, minerals, steel and mine industries also occupy a place of prominence in the state’s economy.

Language Endemic poverty, tribal populations confined to the remote interior districts and extremely poor infrastructure have hampered the development of the Oriyas. The tribal belt is rich in mineral resources but the benefits rarely reach them; illiteracy, unemployment and exploitation by local landlords and merchants are rife. The majority of the rural population ekes out a subsistence living from agriculture. While urban dwellers have access to medical care and education, those in the interior of the states are bereft of any such basic amenities. Oriya is the main language spoken in this state, though the people also use Munda and Dravidian languages. The language is very similar to Assamese and Bengali.

Religion Most of the residents of Orissa are Hindu, though the state has small minorities of Christians and Muslims.

Food The food here is hot, hot, and spicy just like the rest of India. Vegetarians can enjoy the traditional delicious ‘dalna’-lentils cooked with vegetables like bitter gourd, potatoes, aubergines (brinjals), and spinach. Other traditional gastronomic delights are fried spinach (saga bhaja), chicken cooked in a gravy (kukuda tarkari), aubergines (brinjal) cooked with curd (dahi baigan), prawn curry (chingudi tarkari) and khajuri khata which is sweet and sour tomato chutney with dates. Then there is badi chura that is fermented black gram, crushed, dried and mixed with chopped onions and the crowning glory – seasonal vegetables cooked with fish head called ‘chhencheda’. The favourite sweetmeats of Oriyas are cheese based steamed cake, traditionally cooked in a leaf (chhenna podapitha) and the rasagullas.

Culture and Crafts Due to the reigns of many different rulers in the past, the culture, arts and crafts of the state evolved from time to time. The artistic skill of the Oriya artists is unsurpassable in the world. The murals, cloth and palm leaf paintings of Orissa are as old as its magnificent architecture and sculpture. The Chitrakars or artists were patronised by feudal landlords and kings, leaving them free to scale new heights in creativity in all fields of visual arts. The three main categories of Oriya painting, the Bhitichitra or the murals, the Patachitra or the cloth painting and the Pothichitra or the palm leaf engraving have remained more or less the same in style, down the ages. The major motifs are drawn from the rich legends, myths and folklore of the state. The existing musical tradition of Orissa is the cumulative experience of the last 2500 years. Both these genres owe their existence to the cultural traditions that grew around the temples. Odissi, the traditional classical dance form of Orissa originated in the ‘Devadasi’ cult, wherein young women were ‘married’ to gods and remained in the service of the temple, worshipping their lord and master through this lyrical form of dance. This subtle dance form epitomises Indian femininity at its most sensuous. Other traditional dance forms existing in Orissa are Chhau Dance, Danda Dance, Ghoomra Dance, Animal Mask Dance, Kathi Dance, Kedu Dance, Ranapa Dance, Paika Dance, and various Tribal Dances. There are also a number of theatrical performances like Pala, Daskathia, and others like the circus-like Baunsa Rani that form an intrinsic part of rural/tribal Orissa. ‘Applique Work’ is a technique by which a decorative effect is obtained by super imposing patches of coloured cloth on a fabric base to create bright and vivid bedcovers, garden umbrellas, wall hangings and hand fans et al. Dhokra or brass & bell metal craft is perhaps the single most important craft in terms of the number of artisans engaged in its practice. Decorative horn craft has been modernised to create contemporary designs in combs, pen stands, cigar pipes, decorative figures, etc. The local lacquer work is yet another form of handicraft for which Orissa is justly famous. Of all the handicrafts of Orissa the most unique and the finest is silver filigree, locally called tarakasi. Finely crafted jewellery and art pieces made using lacy, delicate filigree are extremely popular. Stone carving and woodcarving are outstanding examples of Orissa’s craftsmanship, perfected through centuries of disciplined efforts of generations of artisans. Orissa produces a wide variety of fabrics, with weavers from each region producing their own stylised patterns in saris, dress materials, bed covers etc. Some of the important handloom centres are Sambalpur, Berhampur, Cuttack, Nuapatna and Mayurbhanj. The tribals of Orissa too have their own handloom fabrics, not produced in huge quantities, but with a coarse beauty of their own.

Tourist info centres

Dept. of Tourism, Paryatan Bhawan, Museum Campus, Bhubaneswar – 751014 Tel: 0674 2432177

How to get there by Air The sole airport in the state is at Bhubaneshwar. It caters to domestic flights alone. There are frequent flights from Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad, linking Orissa to the other parts of India. Cabs, airport to city shuttle bus services, auto rickshaws, rickshaws and mini buses are available outside the airport to ferry travellers to the city.

How to get there by Rail Bhubaneshwar and Behrampore are the two railheads in the state that are connected by trains to all the other metro cities of India like Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai.

How to get there by Road Scheduled buses to Calcutta and to Visakhapatnam in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh arrive at regular intervals. Driving oneself can be fraught with adventure, not always a happy experience as roadside facilities are lacking. In a bus, the breakdown is the driver’s headache, not yours. If you do decide to rent a car though, the good news is that self-drive cars are not available and so, you get a driver who can then be chauffeur, companion and guide as well!!

Getting around Buses and mini buses, trains and driving by car are ways to get around the state. A meter gauge train line links Bhubaneshwar and Puri. Government and private buses, taxis, rented cars etc will take you wherever you want to go. Plenty of tours of the main tourist circuit are available for very reasonable rates and are very popular with those short of time or on tight budgets.

Where to Stay in Orissa

Orissa offers a choice of accommodation options ranging from top-end five star hotels to seaside deluxe resorts and from budget hotels to government or state tourism department run hotels in its capital city, Bhubaneswar. The other cities offer limited places to stay.

Best Time to Visit Orissa

The best time to visit Orissa is between November and May when all the festivals take place. Luckily this period also coincides with the coolest weather the year round. Makar Sankranti which is celebrated around mid January with harvest festivals in all the villages, is a particularly nice time to visit the state. Other festivals are Adivasis Mela the tribal fair from Jan 26 to Feb 1, Magha Saptami in Jan/Feb at Chandrabhaga beach, near Konarak, Panashankanti held in early April all over the state, Chaitra Parba in mid-April when the Santals perform Chhou dances at Baripada and Ashokastami in April/May besides Puri’s Rath Yatra held in July.

Climate The climate is usually temperate leaning towards warm and humid. In May, the hottest time of the year, average temperatures range from 27° to 38° C while the average winter (December) temperatures range from 16° to 28º C. Unfortunately, winter is also the time of the year prone to cyclones. The annual rainfall is about 150 cm with most rain falling in the north and over the Eastern Ghats. The pre monsoon showers in the month of April cause extensive damage to the crops before the monsoons arrive by mid-June, when it really rains in this coastal state with southwest trade winds lashing the region.

Things to do in Orissa

The beautiful state of Orissa renowned for its religious hubs and wildlife sanctuaries offers you with an endless list of things to do here. Take a trip to Bhubaneshwar and Puri for their temples. Visit the Sun Temple at Konark for its sculptures and ancient architecture, the Chilka Lake and the beaches along the coastline of Orissa for scenic beauty.
Nature and wildlife lovers can visit the Simlipal National Park for its wildlife and tiger reserve, Nandankanan Zoo for the rare white tiger, and the Bhitarkanika National Park for its birdlife. Watch out for the sulphur springs at Atri, Taptapani, Deulajhari, and Tarabalo for their medicinal value.
Go shopping for the famous Tarkasi work, the patachitra folk paintings, and other traditional goods. The handlooms and textiles of the state, including Ikat, Bomkai and Sambalpuri designs on tussar silk, are also a potential buy.
A tourist has many options for outdoor activities. One may go angling, kayaking and canoeing, surfing, trekking, or just go swimming or strolling along the serene beaches of Orissa. The Rath Yatra at Puri, the Dance Festival at Konark, the Puri Beach Festival, and the Chariot Festival form the major festivals of Orissa.